Enter Sandman
Jay Smith Lyrics


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Say your prayers, little one
Don't forget, my son,
To include everyone

Tuck you in, warm within
Keep you free from sin
Till the sandman he comes
Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit: light
Enter: night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land

Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of Snow White

Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragon's fire
And of things that will bite

Sleep with one eye open
Gripping your pillow tight

Exit: light
Enter: night
Take my hand
We're off to never-never land

Now I lay me down to sleep
Pray the Lord my soul to keep
If I die before I wake
Pray the Lord my soul to take

Hush little baby, don't say a word
And never mind that noise you heard
It's just the beasts under your bed
In your closet, in your head

Exit: light
Enter: night
Grain of sand

Exit: light
Enter: night




Take my hand
We're off to never-never land

Overall Meaning

Jay Smith's Enter Sandman is a song that speaks to the fears and anxieties of childhood. The opening lines urge children to pray for everyone every night, reminding them to include others in their prayers. The parents promise to keep their child free from sin and safe from harm until the Sandman comes. The first verse sets the stage for the rest of the song, which takes the listener on a journey through a dark and fearsome dream.


The second verse describes a situation where something is amiss, with heavy thoughts clouding the child's mind. The dreams that follow are dark and foreboding, filled with images of war, lies, and dragon's fire. The chorus repeats the idea of sleeping with one eye open, gripping the pillow tight before inviting the child to take the parent's hand and travel into the unknown, into the never-never land.


The final verse concludes with the traditional childhood prayer of "Now I lay me down to sleep," followed by a reassuring lullaby to the frightened child. The song ends on a repetition of the chorus, with the idea of "Exit: light, enter: night" becoming a mantra about the transitions between the day and night.


Line by Line Meaning

Say your prayers, little one
Remember to pray, child


Don't forget, my son, To include everyone
Pray for everyone, my child, not just yourself


Tuck you in, warm within
I'll put you to bed, keeping you cozy and warm


Keep you free from sin
I'll help you stay away from sin


Till the sandman he comes
Until you sleep and the Sandman arrives


Sleep with one eye open
Be alert even in your sleep


Gripping your pillow tight
Hold your pillow tightly


Exit: light
Leave behind the light


Enter: night
Enter the darkness


Take my hand
Take my hand for comfort


We're off to never-never land
We're off to an imaginary place beyond reality


Something's wrong, shut the light
Something doesn't feel right, turn off the light


Heavy thoughts tonight
My thoughts are heavy tonight


And they aren't of Snow White
They are not happy thoughts


Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of conflicts, of untruthful people


Dreams of dragon's fire
Dreams of dragons spewing fire


And of things that will bite
And of things that can harm or hurt us


Now I lay me down to sleep
As I prepare to sleep


Pray the Lord my soul to keep
I pray that God will protect my soul


If I die before I wake
If I die in my sleep


Pray the Lord my soul to take
I pray for God to take my soul if I die in my sleep


Hush little baby, don't say a word
Be quiet, child, don't make a sound


And never mind that noise you heard
Don't be afraid of the sound you heard


It's just the beasts under your bed
It's just your imagination playing tricks on you


In your closet, in your head
They exist only in your mind


Grain of sand
A small, insignificant piece of matter




Writer(s): James Alan Hetfield, Kirk L. Hammett, Lars Ulrich Copyright: Creeping Death Music

Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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